Sqirl reopens after renovation, with a new coffee program

Betty Hallock

Sqirl, the cafe that grew out of Jessica Koslow's Sqirl Confitures in east Hollywood, has reopened its doors after a few-week renovation. Now there's more seating -- big news for anyone who has tried to balance a cappuccino and a bowl of sorrel-pesto-topped brown rice while waiting for one of the few stools on the sidewalk.

The new dining room features a communal table with stools, as well as a bar rail, with a total of about 20 seats. Bright orange cafe tables and chairs decorate the patio.

Behind the coffee bar at the back you'll find Colleen King, who formerly worked for Intelligentsia and now is running Sqirl's coffee program. King says she's featuring a rotating roster of coffee, including Ritual, Heart and Sightglass and is reaching out to roasters such as Tim Wendelboe in Norway.

"I'm sourcing everything very carefully," King says, "the same approach that Jessica takes with her food."

In the meantime, she says, she's conducting cuppings and working closely with baristas and chefs during "palate training" sessions.

Originally scheduled to open along with the remodeled Sqirl is Lou Amdur's affiliated next-door wine shop. Neighborhood denizens are eagerly waiting for his selection of under-$20 wines, along with bread, cheeses, charcuterie and Koslow's preserves.